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Paul Ricard Circuit has just been given the green light for F1 Grand Prix status


French Formula 1 fans have had a welcome boost as Prime Minister, François Fillon, has this week given the go-ahead for considering the Le Castellet circuit to host the Grand Prix de France from 2013 season – alternating with the Belgian Grand Prix. 

The inter-ministerial meeting at the Matignon last Thursday established the principle for a GIP (Public Interest Group) to provide a budget and legal status – two essential elements to start negotiations with Bernie Ecclestone, the commercial rights holder of F1.  Everything should be settled within the next few weeks, although some loose ends and the upcoming presidential elections will make a tight schedule.

Collaborating in the mission to bring the F1 Grand Prix back to the circuit is the minister for major sporting events, Gilles Dufeigneux whose dream was for there to be a French driver / French Grand Prix / French F1 team; Éric Boullier – head of the Lotus Renault GP team; the director of the Circuit Paul Ricard – Gérard Neveu; and newly appointed Stéphane Clair – one of the directors of Marseille Provence airport.

One regret is that Renault will not be present as a constructor in the paddocks – the French team sold 75% of its stake in the Renault F1 Team in 2009 and the remaining 25% iat the end of 2010 to Genii Capital investment company.  In the 2011 Formula One season the team competed under the name Lotus Renault GP but this year the Renault name has been dropped and the team are competing as Lotus F1 Team.  The company continues to supply engines to this and other teams from its Renault Sport F1 enterprise in Viry Châtillon near Paris.

The Paul Ricard circuit hosted the F1 French Grand Prix from 1971 until 1990, when then president François Mitterand instigated the move to the newly built Nevers Magny-Cours circuit.  Since then it has hosted a variety of events, including motorbike racing, truck racing, open air concerts.  Following extensive refurbishments it became a high tech test track for private F1 trials and hosts Le Mans Series (6 hours of le Castellet), Formula 3 Euro Series, as well as racing with a newly formed bike club – Motoclub du Circuit Paul Ricard.

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